County delays decision on flood-plain regs

After taking testimony from just two citizens, the Flathead County commissioners on Thursday delayed until later this month a decision on the overhaul of county flood-plain regulations.

Commissioner Dale Lauman was absent and the other two commissioners wanted to give him a chance to review the revisions and comments.

At issue is the first major revamp of county flood-plain regulations in 26 years.

Local rules haven’t kept pace with changes at both the state and federal level, and the proposed revisions attempt to resolve cumbersome and ambiguous provisions in addition to making county rules compatible with state flood-plain laws.

Bob Keenan, the lone Flathead County Planning Board member who voted against recommending approval of the revisions, told the commissioners the draft appears to be a “pretty innocuous” document, but he wondered if there’s more to the changes than meets the eye.

He particularly questioned if the county process, as it coincides with the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation flood-plain regulatory process, is clear enough.

“At the risk of being shot by the rest of the Planning Board, I’d prefer to go back and look at it,” Keenan said. “In a quiet way it goes beyond and becomes more of a regulatory document.”

Don Burton of Kalispell said he is against adopting the revised regulations. He had concerns about the length of time (120 working days) it takes to get a flood-plain permit and the “vague” language regarding recreational vehicles left for extended periods of time in the flood plain.

Planner Bailey Iott said it often can take up to three months to get a permit because of reviews by the Flathead Conservation District and/or Army Corps of Engineers.

Flood-plain regulations are required for counties that want to participate in the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides federally subsidized flood insurance to people living within the flood plain. Flood-plain regulations apply only to regulated areas of the 100-year flood plain.

The revised flood-plain revisions are available online at http://flathead.mt.gov/planning_zoning; go to draft documents.

Features editor Lynnette Hintze may be reached at 758-4421 or by e-mail at lhintze@dailyinterlake.com.